Completely random stream of thoughts about the software business, from the perspective of an executive.

Friday, August 29, 2014

When opportunity knocks

Last
week, I resigned my position to pursue a new opportunity. I will dearly miss my current team, product,
and customers. But, you know what is
said about opportunity knocking.

Turns
out that a combination of family and professional factors lined up. It was truly "too good to pass
up." In the course of the many
goodbyes, one individual wrote that it takes a lot of the right kind of work to
find these things. He then asked if I
had any recommendations.

My
reply was, "No."

Followed
promptly by my recommendation.

Know
what matters to you. You are the only
one that can figure that out. Maybe it's
money, maybe it's family, maybe it is title and prestige. Then go a little deeper. For example, what does money represent to
you? Security? Freedom?
Is money the only way to achieve these goals?

The
things that matter most to you are a filter for opportunities that come your
way. Technology comes and goes (unless
mastery of a particular technology matter most to you). Commutes can be altered. And yes, cities can be left for new ones.

In
the end, know yourself, use that to measure things that come your way, and seek
out people that share your goals (since they will likely be connected to others
that also share your goals).

Maybe
it is less about finding opportunities and more about recognizing them when
they appear.